AM Bible Study Group; July 9, 2014
1 Timothy 5:17-20
Theme: Timothy is given instruction in providing ‘pastoral care’ for those in church leadership.
(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).
So far in his instructions to Timothy regarding honorable care for the saints in the household of God, Paul has spoken only of the saints within the household in a general sense. Now, he deals specifically with those charged with the oversight of that household—that is, the elders.
The word that Paul uses is prespbteros. It’s the same word he used for ‘older men’ in verse 1 of this chapter; but in verses 17-20, it’s clear that he is speaking of the office of ‘elder’ in the church. The apostle has already dealt in detail with the qualifications that are necessary for elders (see 3:1-7); but here, he is speaking of the kind of care that should be given to them in their “good work”. It’s important to remember that such leaders are to be held to a higher standard of obedience with a greater accountability. They will give an account to God for failure to teach or lead well (James 3:1; Hebrews 13:17). But they will also be rewarded well for faithfulness (1 Peter 5:1-4). It’s beneficial for all the members of the church that they respect the elders’ work as they should (Hebrews 13:7); and to pray for them and protect them in the doing of their ministry.
I. REWARDING THE WORK OF FAITHFUL ELDERS (vv. 17-18).
A. Paul begins by telling Timothy, “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine” (v. 17). The word “honor” is the same word that is used in verse 3 for the care of “widows who are really widows” (timā). Many have understood this to mean that the pastor is to be treated with high regard and esteem. There is a sense in which this is very true. 1 Thessalonianss 5:12-13a says, “And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.” But as was the case with its application to widows, the word “honor” in this context seems to mean more. The fact that it is associated with reward for labor in the next verse suggests that the word also refers to financial remuneration. (The noun form of timā is often associated in the New Testament with the idea of “price” or “proceeds”; see Matthew 27:6, 9; Acts 4:34; 7:16; 1 Corinthians 6:20).
B. The phrase “double honor” may mean that the elders who rule well ought to be considered worthy both esteem and financial support. The word “labor” speaks of labor to the point of exhaustion; and some believe that “double honor” means that those elders who rule diligently in the work of preaching the word and teaching faithful biblical doctrine ought to be considered worthy of double the normal wage. That would be a great burden on most churches; but it’s good to note that—even if a church could not do that, or even if a church would struggle to pay even a normal wage to such elders—those elders should nevertheless be at least “counted worthy” of it.
C. The apostle Paul pointed to Scriptural support for this. He writes, “For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” (v. 18a).; and here, he is quoting from the law in Deuteronomy 25:4. He used that same verse in reference to himself and his own ministry in 1 Corinthians 9:7-9. But he then goes on to say, “and, ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages’” (v. 18b); and here, he does not quote clearly from any Old Testament passage. Leviticus 19:13 and Deuteronomy 24:15 command that a laborer be paid promptly, and this may support what Paul is saying. But if we want to find a direct quote, we would find it in the words of the Lord Jesus. Jesus instructed His disciples, when they went out to preach before Him, that they were not to bring supplies; “for a worker is worthy of his food” (Matthew 10:10), and “for the laborer is worthy of his wages” (Luke 10:7). (As an aside, note that—in doing this—Paul refers to the Gospel records of our Lord’s life and teaching as having the same status of “Scripture” as the Old Testament law.)
II. DEALING WITH THE SINS OF UNFAITHFUL ELDERS (vv. 19-20).
A. Not all elders rule well. All elders are redeemed sinners; and even the best ones serve in a community of redeemed sinners. And so, Paul instructs Timothy, “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses” (v. 19). Here again, it can be said that Paul is drawing his principles from the Old Testament law. In Deuteronomy 17:6, the people of Israel were instructed, “Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.” Similarly, in Deuteronomy 19:15, they were told, “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.” But it may be that He is also drawing from the teaching of our Lord—who Himself also appears to have been applying that Old Testament law to New Covenant practices—when He said; “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
B. To put this into practice faithfully would spare the church much heartache, and would also do much to enhance the witness of the church in the world. Godly pastors in an ungodly world are under attack enough as it is; and it is made much worse when the people of God themselves bring unwarranted accusations or spread gossip about their pastor. Timothy was urged not to entertain or receive (that is, to give credence to) an accusation on the basis of only one person—or perhaps, in some cases, only two. It’s easy to get gossip going; and as the saying goes, “A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” Dealing properly with unwarranted accusations against church leaders does much to stop the gossip.
C. But what happens in the case of pastors when two or three valid witnesses present a charge with real substance? It should go without saying that no pastor or church leader should ever be considered above such examination or protected from discipline (see verse 21). It is to be assumed that a careful examination of the facts by other elders will have been done; and in the sad case that the accusations be proven true, Paul urges, “Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear” (v. 20). The grammar of the phrase “who are sinning” (that is, the verb in the present active participle) suggests not merely a one-time-only failure, but rather something that is ongoing and habitual. And in that case—once the facts are well-established—the sinning elder is to be publicly corrected or reprimanded; and this is not only for his sake but for the sake of the rest of the congregation who would then see and learn and fear to fall into the same sin themselves.
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In the old days, it was typical to call pastors “Reverend”. It’d be good if this practice was dropped altogether; because it tends toward giving titles to men that set them above others. Really, only God should be revered—and not men. But at the same time, let’s not fail to properly honor and support those who the heavenly Father has appointed to the vital work of the oversight of the church that Jesus shed His precious blood to redeem! When this is done right, everyone is made the better!